Clearing: take the opportunity to visit your university

When universities literally open up to students, they remove the mental
barrier that exists between students with no knowledge of university life,
and the institutions themselves, says Rozina Sabur.

Last year four in 10 students going to university didn’t attend an open day - you shouldn’t spend three years at a university without having spent at least three hours looking around beforehand.Photo: Alamy

But many universities are sincere about trying to level the playing field. Although Alan Milburn’s report suggested that around 3,700 state school students with the required grades fail to get a place in Russell Group universities, many of these institutions genuinely are opening their doors to give prospective applicants a taste of higher education. Some universities are putting on taster days immediately after results day to allow students to sample their courses before selecting their institution in the clearing process.

If you have missed your grades and ended up in Clearing it is worth looking into these. Not only will they calm your nerves and avoid a panicked (but very important) decision but you will be able to make informed choices about where you think you will feel comfortable for the next three or so years.

Leeds Metropolitan Universityencourages students considering applying through Clearing to go to their open days today and Saturday: "We understand that going to university is a big commitment. It’s an investment in your future, and you’ll want to be sure that you’re choosing not only the right course, but also the right university."

I spoke to a few students who have taken part in university access schemes and taster days, and it was clear that for those who do seize upon this opportunity, it can be a deciding factor in decisions about the next stage of their education. When universities literally open up to students, they remove the mental barrier that exists between students with no knowledge of university life, and the institutions themselves.

Nikita Patel, at the University of Cambridge, was encouraged to apply after attending a taster day: “It opened my eyes to the real Cambridge. Undergraduates told us about their experiences at university and answered any queries we had, which was reassuring.”

John Clifford, who hopes to study History at university, benefited from the Brent-Eton Summer School: “I mentioned Eton in my personal statement. The school made me open to new experiences with new people. To come from a Brent school and to get – for a short time – a flavour of the ‘Eton experience’ was incredible.”

And access schemes can be particularly useful for some subjects. Coming from a state school that did not offer Latin on the curriculum, and studying it at university alongside students who had been immersed in it since the age of 11 or younger, I understand just how vital these opportunities can be.

Will Griffiths is Director of the University of Cambridge School Classics Project, a not-for-profit research organisation which works to expand access to classics in schools. According to Griffiths, fewer than 10 per cent of students ever have the chance to study a classical subject at school.

“If classics is to thrive in universities, we need to do much more to reach out to students," he said. "Taster days offer us an opportunity not only to share the classical world with students but also to better understand students’ changing needs and interests.”

But unfortunately, simply too few students do get involved with access schemes.

Typically it is the middle classes who take advantage of these opportunities, often simply because they are more aware of them. Universities are using their resources to remove the veil of elitism that cuts them off from many students, but they do not have the resources or capability to target students directly. In spite of these resources, universities must feel frustrated that these opportunities are often not trickling down to the most disadvantaged.

I recently asked my former Classics tutor why the department wasn't opening itself up to state school students more. He explained that the department would love to, but they simply didn't know which schools to contact, or the time to find out. This does show that all prospective students have to do is ask; universities are happy to be approached.

Some universities provide travel bursaries for their outreach programmes. You can even ask your school to communicate with the university directly: if there is a big group of you some universities will put on special classes.

If you are about to go through Clearing, it is worth taking an active role in seeking out the institutions which are reaching out to prospective students.